In late 2024, The DJ Diaries surveyed 343 people from Seoul’s club-going community on where they go out, how often, what they spend, and what they want changed. This page collects the key statistics for reference and citation. The numbers profile the active, internationally connected club community rather than all of Seoul.
The ten findings
1. Itaewon is the preferred district for 44% of active clubbers
Forty-four per cent of respondents named Itaewon their preferred destination, followed by Haebangchon at 23%, Hongdae at 19%, Gangnam at 9%, and Euljiro at 5%.
2. Preference and footfall point in opposite directions
Most young Seoulites who go clubbing are in Hongdae or Gangnam on any given night. The communities that go out most seriously prefer Itaewon and Haebangchon, which together took 67% of preference.
3. Most of the scene goes out once a month or less
Twenty-eight per cent of respondents go out less than once a month and 41% once a month. Only 9% go out weekly or more, with 22% at two to three times a month.
4. A night out in Seoul costs $40 to $80
Average reported spending per night ranged from $40 to $80, combining entry, drinks, and transport.
5. The most requested change: more local Korean bookings
Forty-seven per cent asked for more local Korean artist bookings, the single most common request in the survey.
6. Sound quality outside Itaewon is a named problem
Thirty-eight per cent asked for better sound systems outside Itaewon, suggesting the gap between flagship rooms and neighbourhood venues is audible to the audience.
7. One in three wants earlier start times
Thirty-three per cent asked for earlier event start times, a finding consistent with a scene whose core audience now skews late twenties and older.
8. The scene leans on its international community
Responses indicate the club scene depends more on the expat and international visitor population than local industry insiders usually acknowledge publicly.
9. The 2022 Itaewon tragedy still shapes behaviour
Survey responses naming the 2022 tragedy as a factor in reduced clubbing frequency outnumbered responses citing any other single issue.
10. Demand for deeper programming is real, not nostalgia
Findings 5 and 6 together indicate the demand for deeper music programming outside Itaewon is genuine and currently unserved.
Methodology
The survey ran in late 2024, distributed through club social media channels and word of mouth in the English-Korean bilingual community that overlaps with Seoul’s club scene. 343 people responded. The sample is self-selecting: read it as a profile of the active club-going community, not a census of all Seoulites who occasionally go out. Full analysis in the Seoul Nightlife Report.
Citing this data
These statistics may be quoted with attribution to The DJ Diaries Seoul Nightlife Survey (n=343, 2024) and a link to this page. For questions about the data, use the contact details on the about page.
Quick answers
How many people took the Seoul nightlife survey?
343 respondents, surveyed in late 2024. The sample is people who go out in Seoul, not the general population, so treat it as a picture of the clubbing audience rather than the city.
Which Seoul neighbourhood is most popular for going out?
Itaewon leads at 44 percent, followed by Haebangchon at 23 percent, Hongdae at 19 percent, Gangnam at 9 percent and Euljiro at 5 percent.
How often do Seoul clubbers go out?
28 percent go out less than once a month, 41 percent about once a month, 22 percent two to three times a month, and 9 percent weekly or more.
How much does a night out in Seoul cost?
Most respondents reported spending between 40 and 80 US dollars per night, covering cover charge, drinks and transport.
Can I reuse this data?
Yes, with a citation to this page. The dataset is published as open data with a suggested citation format in the Citing this data section.